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DTE awards solar power projects to 122 customers

DTE Energy Co. has chosen 122 solar energy projects in the third of four offerings of its customer-owned SolarCurrents pilot program.

The pilot program, which is part of DTE’s commitment to provide 10 percent of its energy production through renewable sources, offers customers financial incentives to install solar photovoltaic systems on their homes and businesses.

The 122 customers were selected in a random drawing because DTE received 219 applications for the projects. The 219 would have generated 1.7 megawatts of power, far more than the 1 megawatt DTE planned to offer.

In December, the Michigan Public Service Commission ordered DTE and Jackson-based Consumers Energy Co. to participate in a community work group that is evaluating whether to expand customer-owned solar projects.

Officials from DTE and Consumers have told Crain’s they would participate in the project. However, company officials said the work group has no authority to modify their PSC-approved energy plans.

DTE officials said they have no plans to expand the SolarCurrents phase two pilot program beyond the two megawatts already planned to come online by Dec. 31, 2015. Officials cite high relative costs of solar compared with wind and other renewable energy sources.

In the first phase of the SolarCurrents program, which ended in 2011, nearly 600 solar energy projects were built that represented a total of five megawatts of capacity.

The work group’s report is expected to be completed by July. The report will recommend whether to expand DTE’s SolarCurrents program and Consumer’s comparable Experimental Advanced Renewable Program. Both programs provide financial incentives for residential and business customers to build and install photovoltaic systems.